Ron Gift - Torpedo Squadron Leader from WWII

Captain Ron Gift.

Here is a famous picture of Ron Gift from Life Magazine during World War II.

I drove over the bridge to do an interview with Ron Gift for the Veterans History Project for the Library of Congress. Ron Gift served as a torpedo squadron leader in the South Pacific during WWII. I interviewed Ron at his home at Covenant Shores in Mercer Island, WA. Ron is a great guy. His son recently wrote a great book about the life and times of Ronald Gift. Ron served as a pilot in the US Navy in the South Pacific during World War II as a torpedo squadron leader. Ron earned the Navy Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross. After the war Ron served all over the world in the Navy, including Commander of a Jet Squadron, Staff at NORAD, and teaching others about flying. Ron told me some incredible stories of how his squadron landed back on the carriers at night with only a few gallons of fuel left and hardly any way to see what they were doing.

Ron's interview was so interesting, so compelling, that I wish everyone could see it. We have volunteered to shoot 100 free interviews of Veterans from World War II for the Veterans History Project for the Library of Congress. To learn more about the Veterans History Project, go to www.loc.gov/vets

Guy Townsend - First Test Pilot of B-52

It was a beautiful day in Mercer Island. I was there to shoot an interview with Brig General Guy Townsend, the first test pilot of the B52. Guy is a very nice fellow. I was there to interview him for the Veterans History Project for the Library of Congress. We have volunteered to do 100 free interviews with Veterans from WWII. Guy Townsend is originally from Mississippi. He flew in the South Pacific during World War II. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Guy Townsend knows Bob Hoover, Chuck Yaeger, and all the test pilots at Edward Air Base during the late 40s and throughout the 50s. Guy flew B17s and B27s during the war in the Pacific and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross. After the war he became one of the top test pilots of bombers, including many top secret experimental aircraft. He was co-pilot on the very first flight of the B52 bomber. In the 1960s he rose all the way up to Brigadier General in the Air Force. After 30 years in the service, Guy worked for Boeing, continuing his leadership of jet testing. It is remarkable that a hero like Guy Townsend is living just down the street. I guess its true all across America. Heroes are living next door to us and we didn't even know. They rarely talk about those times. The times of sacrifice, of service, of honor, and duty. I wish they would talk about it more.

The DecoBelles at the Art Deco Preservation Ball

The Decobelles at the Art Deco Preservation Ball at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland.

Suddenly they told me that it was a black tie affair and asked me if I had brought a tuxedo. I had driven down from Seattle to meet and shoot interviews with Zoe Dell Nutter, an aviation pioneer. The next thing I know I am putting on my dark sportcoat and we are headed to Oakland. Zoe Dell was the special guest at the Art Deco Preservation Ball to be held that evening at the restored Paramount Theatre in Oakland. Back in the early 1980s I was in the theatre business and owned an old movie palace called the Tower Theatre in Fresno, CA. I loved my time there at the Tower. Not only did I see over 1000 films a year, but I also fell in love with the art deco styling, the neon lights, the gold leaf everywhere, the majesty of the architecture, the charm and the class of the long lost art deco era. As we drove up, there were old fixed up classic cars everywhere. The men were dressed up like gangsters and in Zoot Suits, while the women all took my breath away as they were dressed like out of the Great Gatsby. I took a lot of great video footage that night. They recognized Zoe Dell Nutter for having performed at that exact theatre back in 1936-1939. The audience was very graceful and kind to Zoe Dell by giving her a standing ovation. Then the music began and everyone started doing the great dances of the Charleston, and more. The band was awesome. It was a perfect night of nostalgia. Then at 10pm the manager made sure to remind me to get my camera ready, because here came the DecoBelles, a group of gorgeous, perfectly tuned dancers, who tap danced from the hallways into the main dance floor. They gave a spectacular performance, one to remember always. After a few more hours of fun we all started back to our cars and headed back across the bridge toward the San Francisco skyline. I looked back to see the bright neon at the Paramount. I looked over to Zoe Dell and I think I could see a tear in her eye. Maybe it was mine.

Ben Wiener - The History of the Generic Drugs Revolution

Ben Wiener – Generic Drugs pioneer

I drove down to Vancouver WA to interview Ben Wiener. Ben is a pioneer of the Generic Drugs industry. Back in the late 1940s, Ben began to realize the incredible disparity between the costs and prices of prescription drugs. He began a lifetime quest to bring generic drugs to the American mainstream. Today as Ben looks back at his incredible career, he cannot believe that because of some bad decisions he is broke and the industry he founded is positively impacting every American family. This interview is just the beginning of a new documentary we are creating about the History of the Generic Drug Industry. The interview with Ben went very well. We talked for almost five hours. I was totally fascinated by the incredible history tales of the birth of Generic drugs, from stories of "patent jumping" to scary scenes of death threats and battles with the FDA. Ben is a very interesting fellow with a remarkable story. We are working now to put together a proposal we can show investors to really do this film as a major motion picture for national distribution.

Zoe Dell Nutter - American icon

Zoe Dell Lantis Nutter

I was invited to a special weekend down in San Francisco to interview an American icon, Zoe Dell Lantis Nutter. Zoe Dell was being honored for her role as the original "Pirate Girl" or "Theme Girl" of the Golden Gate International Exposition which occured at Treasure Island in San Francisco in 1939-1940.
Zoe Dell Lantis Nutter has led an interesting life. She was originally a dancer from Oregon who grew up in the timber falling industry just west of Portland. During the Depression her father lost his lumber mills and the family moved down to Medford. Zoe Dell always has been drawn to the Ballet, and she loved dancing. Eventually she broke away from the family and moved down to the wild town of San Francisco, where she instantly got multiple offers to dance in the vaudeville chorus lines. One day she was approached by the promoters of the new Golden Gate Exposition to be held at Treasure Island. They wanted her to help promote the new aviation industry. At that time most people were afraid of flying. Zoe Dell became the infamous "Pirate Girl" and started travelling all across America, meeting every Governor and Mayor she could find. One day the Governor LaGuardia of New York said he wouldn't be seen in a picture with Zoe Dell unless she wore a coat, and the national press picked up on the story and instantly Zoe Dell was the "most photographed woman in the world." Her picture was published in every major newspaper and magazine, including Life Magazine. During World War II Zoe Dell volunteered for the USO show circuit and returned to dancing. She had a short career in Hollywood. Eventually Zoe Dell started working for the Piper organization, promoting family aviation. She eventually learned to fly herself, and she became a major promoter of bringing women into aviation. She travelled all across America promoting the new Piper Cubs and other aircraft. In later years, Zoe Dell became involved and led the formation of the National Aviation Hall of Fame in Dayton, Ohio. Recently Zoe Dell was recognized as a Living Legend of Aviation by the Kiddee Hawk Foundation.

Village Theatre fundraising video

Here is the video we created for the Village Theatre.

Barb & Bob Balkema Movie Trailer

Here is the new Movie Trailer for the Bob and Barb Balkema video biography.

Marc Castillo - Editor for The New Fighting Seabees

Marc Castillo - New editor for our documentary "The New Fighting Seabees"
I am proud to announce that our good friend Marc Castillo is back on the team, taking on the editing for our new documentary "The New Fighting Seabees." Marc was one of the founding fathers of Inventive Productions, as one of the original editors and producers in our early days. Marc has substantial experience in the entertainment business and has proven to be a great storyteller, with his editing of "Mr. Baseball- the biography of Woody O'Rourke" and "A Woman of Faith - the biography of Colleen MacIntosh." We are pleased to have Marc helping us put together the exciting new documentary "The New Fighting Seabees."

Schneider National Case Study Video

Here is the Case Study video we made for Schneider National and Excellent Cultures.

Greater Nashville Association of Realtors

Here is the final version of the video we made for the Greater Nashville Association of Realtors and The Pacific Institute.

RJ asked to Speak at PEVAN meeting

I was asked to speak at the monthly PEVAN meeting in Redmond. PEVAN is a professional organization of video producers who meet once a month to network and to get ideas. The meeting was held at the Redmond Library. I told them a little bit about my filmmaking background since the 1960s and then showed some samples of my work. The PEVAN group was very hospitable to me and had lots of questions.

We now are WEVA Members

Recently we were approached to become members of the WEVA International. This is an association for people who do Videography of weddings, events, and other types of video productions. What I liked about WEVA is their committment to integrity, and to helping educate video producers all around the world. We now are a proud member of WEVA.

Key Largo -- Now and Then

Sunset in Key Largo, Florida

Director John Huston with stars Humphrey Bogart, and Lauren Bacall at Key Largo, Florida during the making of the movie in 1948.

Ever since I was a little kid I wanted to go to Key Largo. I had read some of the short stories by Ernest Hemingway and saw the movie by John Huston. I really liked that movie because it was in black and white and Lauren Bacall was so beautiful in black and white. Humphrey Bogart was great and Edward G. Robinson was so mean in that movie. It had a fantastic cast including Claire Trevor (who was awesome in "Stagecoach" with John Wayne) and Lionel Barrymore (Mister Potter from "Its a Wonderful Life).

When I found out I was going to Miami to shoot the Sonosite Convention interviews, I desperately tried to find time to drive down to the Florida Keys.

It was already getting dark as we approached Key Largo, so instead of going all the way down to Key West, we decided to stop in Key Largo and catch a beer and the sunset. The people at Key Largo were very nice and hospitable. We met a lady whose husband is a writer and they live in a sailboat in Key Largo. That would be the life.

Well, back to Miami we went to go do some more interesting interviews with the Sonosite team.

Sonosite Convention in Miami

The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort

We were asked to go to Miami, Florida to capture interviews for a case study video we are creating for Sonosite. The weather was perfect and the people were incredible. I first was introduced to Sonosite when we interviewed their CEO for the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce Eastside Business Awards. I was instantly impressed with the incredible products that Sonosite makes. They are the leading manufacturer and distributor of handheld ultrasound devices in the world. The Sonosite headquarters is located in Bothel, Washington not far from our Inventive Productions studios. While doing the interview, they took the time to demonstrate the machines in use, and also to do a Drop Test, where they drop the devices to see how durable they will be in the field. These devices are used all over the world, from the battle lines in Iraq to the fields of Uganda. These devices can really help people. Bill Maxwell and I flew to Miami and immediately started interviewing the people of Sonosite. People from all corners of the world were congregating here in Miami to talk about the successes of the Sonosite devices, and to learn about the new products of the future. I have become a number one fan of Sonosite and recommend you learn more about this unique team. I will upload more stories from Miami soon.

Cathy Crosslin - CEO of InStar Performance

Cathy Crosslin

My team and I drove over to the Washington State Convention Center in downtown Seattle to record a Gordy Graham speech and a Cathy Crosslin workshop. We shot using three HD cameras. Two were stationery cameras and one was moving around throughout the crowd. After Gordy’s speech ended, everyone headed across the hall to the Cathy Crosslin workshop. We shot that workshop too. My son Jason was manning one of the cameras and he got very involved with the topic Cathy was talking about that day. In fact he suggested to me that I should go through and follow Cathy’s advice about being a better parent. He told me to fill out the workbook immediately.

Cathy Crosslin is one of the most inspirational persons I have ever met. She has dedicated her life to helping others achieve greatness and to fulfill their potential. She works all around the country with all kinds of organizations to help them get along better. To get along with others is a most important characteristic. Cathy has just announced the formation of her new company, InStar Performance.

Thanks, Cathy, for inspiring my son to want me to be a better parent.

George Schaeffer - CEO of Puget Sound Security

George Schaeffer - CEO of Puget Sound Security

It was great to interview George Schaeffer, the new CEO of Puget Sound Security, for their YouTube video. George has a tremendous record in the security industry and he did a super interview. I was very impressed with his philosophy of education, training, and treating people right. George came over to our Green Screen Studio for his interview.

Robert Cremin - CEO of Esterline Technologies

Robert Cremin - CEO of Esterline

The minute I met Bob Cremin I knew I was in for a great interview. Bob is the CEO of Esterline in Bellevue. Esterline is a hugely successful billion dollar business that hardly anyone has heard of, even in the local community. My goal was to interview Bob for the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce for their Eastside Business Awards. Esterline was nominated as a finalist for the Eastside Business of the Year. Located in downtown Bellevue, Esterline is a leading manufacturer in the aerospace, defense, and medical industries. Everything from electronics to casings for weapons, Esterline is involved in thousands of unique products. Bob has been with the company for over 30 years. He is a sought after speaker and a mentor to many. I was impressed with Bob's enthusiasm for Esterline and his focus and philosophy on always doing your best and always doing the right thing. Great fundamentals achieve great results. I think the future will be very bright for Bob Cremin and Esterline Technologies.

Daniel Hoyos - SNAP Program

Daniel Hoyos - SNAP Program

Recently we started a new program that is becoming very popular with our clients. It is called the SNAP Program. SNAP stands for Social Networking Action Plan. Under this plan we can help a company or business owner or anyone to stay on top of all these new Social Networking sites, including Facebook, Twitter, Biznik, MySpace, Plaxo, and blogs, too. Under the SNAP program we establish a web page at each of these sites, and then do daily monitoring for you. Daniel Hoyos is one of our interns who has decided to help us with this new program. For more info about the SNAP program, call 425-284-1900.

Naveen Jain - CEO of Intellius

Naveen Jain - CEO of Intellius

It was raining in Bellevue that day when I interviewed Naveen Jain, CEO of Intellius. I was there to interview Naveen for the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce for their Eastside Business Awards. Intellius was a finalist for two separate awards. One for Eastside Business of the Year and one for their philanthropic work. Naveen was very enthusiastic and powerful during our interview. I was impressed with the scope of the donations and charity work that Naveen has established with Intellius. To learn more about Naveen Jain and Intellius, go to www.intellius.com

Carla Corkern - CEO of Talyst

Carla Corkern - CEO of Talyst

I first was introduced to Talyst a couple of years ago when we were hired by the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce for the Eastside Business Awards video. Talyst was a finalist and did win an award that year. Over the past couple of years we also were fortunate to do a couple of Case Study video productions for Casey Cram, the VP of Marketing for Talyst. This month the Bellevue Chamber asked us to do the new Eastside Business Awards video again for our third year. On the list of finalists again was Talyst. I drove over to Bellevue to capture some video footage and to interview the CEO of Talyst, Carla Corkern. I cannot tell you how much I was impressed with Carla. She is a bundle of enthusiastic energy about her company, her team, and her vision for the future. I always thought Talyst was onto something big with their work in automating pharmacies to eliminate mistakes in the delivery of prescriptions to people.

Carla recently was promoted from the COO of Talyst to their CEO. To learn more about Talyst, go to www.talyst.com

Dara Khosrowshahi - CEO of Expedia

Dara Khosrowshahi - CEO of Expedia

I drove over to downtown Bellevue to the new tall black building with the Expedia sign on it. I was there to take some video coverage of Expedia and to interview Expedia's CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, for the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce. Expedia was a finalist for the Eastside Business of the Year Award. I was very impressed by Dara and his team at Expedia. Dara was very strong and confident during our interview. The Expedia team was incredible and hospitable as we went floor by floor interviewing people and capturing spontaneous moments. Everyone we met was genuine and seemed to be very happy to be there. I think I can sense why Expedia is so successful. It has very strong leadership and very strong people who really care about their work. Everyone was having a good time and they liked their work a lot. I think all American companies should model the positive success at Expedia and do what works: Happy People!

Bedford PA – Schneider National Trucking

Schneider National -- Bedford, PA

I drove up from Washington DC to Bedford, PA to interview some truckers who have been through the Excellent Cultures training programs. It was a beautiful morning. I was very impressed with the professionalism, energy, and hospitality of the team there at Schneider National. They gave testimonials about how the Excellent Cultures program had made a positive impact on their efficiencies, teamwork, and productivity. To learn more about the Excellent Cultures program, go to www.excellentcultures.com

Joe Denver - Veterans History Project - B-17 Pilot

B-17 "Flying Fortress"

I drove over to Ardmore, Pennsylvania to interview veteran Joe Denver. Joe was a B-17 pilot during World War II. I was met by his two sons. They were very excited to have me interview their father. The home was like a museum, with lots of great memorabilia from World War II. I also noticed they had a wall full of Civil War stuff. Since I had just visited the Gettysburg battleground, I was instantly moved to their Civil War area. The Denver family had a long tradition of serving in the US military. One of the Denvers served in the Civil War. They had his original gun, hat, and the bullet that killed him. I sat down with Joe with my HD video camera, set up a light and microphone, and then we talked. Joe was mostly blind, so I couldn't use my cue cards with my specialized 124 questions. So we just talked and I went through the questions one by one. Joe did a super job talking about the way things were during his lifetime, growing up in the Depression, serving as a B-17 pilot during WWII, and his life after the war. Joe is a super guy and a real character. He has strong values and as terrific memory for details. He has a great sense of humor, too.

Arlington National Cemetery -- Jimy's Parents

The main reason for the trip to Washington DC was to capture on video the internment of Mary and Byrd White into Arlington National Cemetery.

Mary and Byrd were the parents of a good friend, Jimy White. Both of his parents served during World War II. Mary was a nurse in the Navy and Byrd was a doctor and served in a MASH in the Army.

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center -- Air & Space Museum - Dulles International Airport

The Flying Wing

P-61 "Black Widow"

I drove over to Dulles International Airport to see the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, a new part of the Smithsonian Institute's National Air & Space Museum. The Center was named for its major donor, Steven Udvar-Hazy.

I was there to get some pictures and video footage of the famous "Black Widow P-61" and the "Flying Wing." Both of these aircraft were first flown by test pilot Johnny Myers years ago for Northrop. I am producing and directing a new documentary about the life and times of the great aviator Johnny Myers. Johnny Myers was a mentor to so many pilots. He passed away last year.

The P-61 was the first aircraft to primarily use radar and to fly at night during WWII. It was used at both the Battle of the Bulge and at Guadacanal.

The Flying Wing was really the early prototype for what eventually became the stealth bombers. Johnny Myers was the test pilot for the Flying Wings at Northrop.

Thanks to everyone at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center for their hospitality.

RJ's Visit to Gettysburg

Gettysburg National Military Park

My friend Jimy White and my uncle Tom McHatton had Scrapple for breakfast, then loaded up in the rental car for a drive to see Gettysburg. I had seen the Gettysburg site almost 40 years ago when I was a kid. Jimy is a real history buff and he pushed us to make the two hour drive to see the battleground of Gettyburg. My memories as a kid told me that there wasn't much to see there, just open fields where once there was one of the worst battles in history. My uncle Tom told us that things had changed a bit over there in recent years.

We got more excited as we approached the signs to Gettysburg. It was a nice and warm day. We drove up to the main Gettysburg museum site where we went through some exhibits, the gift store, watched an IMAX video about Gettysburg, and then we watched an incredible multimedia presentation in a giant round room where we call one of the world's largest paintings come alive. I never knew about the giant round painting of Gettysburg. It is called the Gettysburg Cyclorama Painting. It was orginally painted in the late 1800s by French artist Paul Philippoteaux. It is almost 400 feet in length and in the round room, you feel you are actually in the middle of the Gettysburg battle. I really recommend you see and experience this if you ever get a chance. Its worth the time to see this incredible artifact come to life.

Then Jimy, Tom, and I jumped in our rental car to take the Car Tour of the actual Gettysburg battle. We had purchased a set of CDs which has stopping points marked along a driving route throughout the battleground. The CDs tell you the real story of what happened at each location. This was the best part of the day, and we were really sad to see the sun fall into darkness. I learned more about the Gettysburg battle and the real people who fought and died there. I recommend you take the audio tour, because you will never look at Gettysburg the same way ever. We drove back that night to my uncle's house and we could not stop talking about the great time we had at Gettysburg. We saw the spot where Abraham Lincoln gave that famous speech. We saw where the Picketts Charge happened. We saw Little Round Top and saw the view from where Robert E Lee watched the battle, and watched his forces fall.

General John Dailey -- Smithsonian Institute - Air & Space Museum

General John R. Dailey -- Director at the Smithsonian Institute - National Air & Space Museum.

I drove up to Washington DC from Baltimore. It was raining in Baltimore, but the sun was shining in DC. There must be something huge happening in DC because there are kids and buses everywhere. I circled around until my GPS took me to the entrance of the National Air & Space Museum at the Smithsonian Institute. I was there to interview the Director of the Museum, General John R. Dailey, for my new documentary "The Flying Man" about the legendary test pilot Johnny Myers. Johnny Myers once was a board member at the Smithsonian and General Dailey had become a close friend of Johnny.

My interview with General Dailey went very well. He talked about the wisdom and character of Johnny Myers and how each had a unique view on aviation history. Johnny Myers was a test pilot, and John Dailey was a four star general, a Marine pilot with over 6000 hours of flying experience including fighter planes and helicopters. General Dailey had flown over 400 combat missions in Vietnam. He earned numerous awards, including the Bronze Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Vietnam Gallantry Cross. After Vietnam, Dailey continued his dedication to his country by working his way up to General. He also worked in the top leader positions at NASA and the Marine Command. Now John Dailey is the Director of the Smithsonian Institute's National Air & Space Museum.

I was really moved and impressed by my interview with John. He is truly a nice guy, and he gave me a great interview about Johnny Myers. I would like to return soon to interview General Dailey about his own personal life story. When you meet some of these heroic people, its sometimes hard to believe that this person did all these incredible achievements. It makes you realize that we are all people and that anyone can be a hero if they dedicate themselves to others.

I learned a lot in my short interview with General John Dailey. I asked myself what can I do to serve others and sacrifice for others, the way General Dailey has done his entire life.

Karen Ridlon -- Founder of Eastside Baby Corner

Karen Ridlon--Founder of Eastside Baby Corner

Producer Bill Maxwell and I drove over to Issaquah to interview Karen Ridlon, founder of Eastside Baby Corner, for the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce's annual Eastside Business Awards. The Eastside Baby Corner had been nominated under the Non-Profit category.

Bill and I were totally surprised and impressed with Karen and the wonderful team of volunteers working diligently there at Eastside Baby Corner. I had never heard of EBC before this meeting. EBC has been around over 18 years. The warehouse was full of volunteers and lots of clothing, toys, etc dedicated to the needy kids we don't think about sometimes. Karen told us that the EBC focuses on the needs of kids from birth to the age of 12. EBC works to organize and distribute materials to over 100 other non-profit agencies around the Puget Sound area. Some of the agencies benefiting from EBC's work is Hopelink and Head Start. Items distributed include things like baby formula, car seats, beds, cribs, bedding and diapers. My eyes grew big and started tearing up as I saw the incredible enthusiasm from the volunteers and how this EBC was really making a difference. I asked myself "How could I not have heard of EBC before?" You can learn more about the Eastside Baby Corner at www.babycorner.org

Ed Belleba -- Friends of Youth

Ed Belleba -- CEO of Friends of Youth

I drove over to Redmond to shoot an interview for the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce for their Eastside Business Awards. My subject was Ed Belleba, the CEO of Friends of Youth, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping kids. I really knew nothing about Friends of Youth or their mission. Ed talked about how he got started at a volunteer with the organization after he retired from his career with Microsoft. I was really surprised at the vast size and scope of the Friends of Youth team. Over 20 locations in the state and thousands of volunteers are involved. From residence homes for runaways, to job opportunities, foster homes, to pregnancy and substance abuse counseling. Bob is a terrific leader of a terrific organization.

Scott Harrison -- CEO of Barclay Dean.

Scott Harrison -- CEO of Barclay Dean

Once in a while you run into someone who really inspires you. That happened for me during my interview with Scott Harrison, CEO of Barclay Dean. Scott and I both love history and we both love Thomas Jefferson. Scott is a rennassance man. He spends a lot of his time trying to help others and he believes in the concept of "give to others" and "do it because it is the right thing to do." Scott's company Barclay Dean is a pioneer in the new green technologies in interior office furniture and equipment. I visited the Barclay Dean showroom and offices in downtown Bellevue. I was interviewing Scott for the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce. His firm was nominated for the Eastside Business Awards for their work in community support. Barclay Dean works closely with several charities and community organizations including Junior Achievement and YES. Scott and I talked about our feelings about history. We talked about Thomas Jefferson and how he wrote the Declaration of Independence on a desk where you had to stand. He wrote it standing up. Scott told me how those kinds of desks are making a comeback these days. I really enjoyed meeting Scott and hope to focus more of my efforts to helping others like he does.

Paul Buckman - CEO of Pathway Medical Technologies

I was quite impressed and surprised by the incredible team at Pathway Medical Technologies.  I was there to shoot footage for the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce Eastside Business Awards.  Pathway is a pioneer in new technologies that could really have impact on blod clots in the veins of legs.  They showed me some demonstrations of the technology and it made me very optimistic about the future of their devices and technology.

Tony Cheng & Annie Cheng - Netstar Communications - Bellevue Chamber Eastside Business Awards

Annie Cheng                                  Tony Cheng

I drove over to Bellevue's NetStar Communications to shoot footage for the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce's Eastside Business Awards video production.  I was so grateful for the incredible hospitality of Annie Cheng, Tony Cheng, and the entire NetStar team.  They are so enthusiastic about their successful company and the future looks bright.

Christina Brandt - CEO of AtWork!

Christina Brandt -- CEO of AtWork!

We drove over to the new offices of AtWork! as part of our Bellevue Chamber Eastside Business Awards video production.  We met with CEO Christina Brandt and took some great shots of their new facility and team.  

Kevin Goodwin - CEO of Sonosite - Eastside Business Awards

Kevin Goodwin

We drove to Bothell to shoot footage at Sonosite's headquarters for the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce's Eastside Business Awards annual ceremony.  It was my first introduction to Sonosite and their array of products.  I was immediately in awe at the unbelievable potential of their work.  My grandmother died of a broken aorta about fifteen years ago.  At that time it took about six hours to get her to the type of ultrasound equipment that could have diagnosed her situation.   Today with Sonosite's handheld ultrasound equipment, a local EMT or emergency room person could have seen inside my grandmothers body within seconds.  I have tremendous enthusiasm for the potential to save many, many lives with the new Sonosite technology.  Kevin Goodwin and the team at Sonosite have been nominated for Eastside Business of the Year by the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce.  The winners will be announced at the annual ceremony at Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue on April 29th.

Pedro Castro - Magellan Architects - Eastside Business Awards

Pedro Castro

It was a little bit rainy that day I visited Magellan Architects in Redmond.  I was there to shoot some footage of the CEO Pedro Castro and his team of architects.  I was immediately impressed with Mr. Castro.  Pedro is sort of a renaissance man.  His father was a well-known architect in Brazil.  Pedro has a love for art and freedom.  His Magellan Architects have worked on a wide variety of projects from many industries, including education, churches, banks, and high tech.  Pedro described his passion for doing good work and his loyalty to his team.  Pedro is a top notch leader during this challenging times.  His character is true to his team and to others.

David Zook - Tutoring Club - Bellevue Chamber Eastside Business Awards

David Zook is a dedicated teacher.    I drove over to the Tutoring Club in Bellevue WA to shoot video footage for the Bellevue Chamber Eastside Business Awards.  The Tutoring Club is a finalist for this year's Eastside Business Awards.  David Zook is the franchise owner of the Tutoring Club.  I was very impressed with David's committment to helping kids learn.  He told me about his background as an educator and about his hopes for the future.  He told me how he really tries to help kids, whether it be by helping out with the Lego Robotics Competitions or by planting a seed of the potential of being a Nobel Prize winner some day to a teenager.  David Zook is planting seeds in the minds of kids, that someday actually might produce a future Nobel Prize winner.  I really believe he is on to something with that idea. 

Carlos Veliz - PCSI Design - Bellevue Chamber Eastside Business Awards

I really enjoyed my interview and meeting with Carlos Veliz and his team at PCSI Design in Bothell, Washington.  I was there to shoot footage of the PCSI Design team for the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce Eastside Business Awards.  PCSI Design is a finalist for the awards to be given out in a large ceremony at Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue on April 29th.  I was very impressed with the enthusiasm and dedication of Carlos and his team.  Carlos has built a strong business in designing all kinds of products including work for the aerospace, medical, and assorted other industries.  Carlos talked about the importance of being flexible and listening to your customers, especially in tough economic times.  I liked Carlos' committment to helping kids and mentoring, and his love for baseball.  He is a very active contributor of time and money to numerous kids organizations.    Recently Carlos was awarded the Washington State SBA Minority Small Business Champion of the Year.

Dr. Mark Dedomenico -- CEO of Pro Sports Club

Dr. Mark Dedomenico

I was very impressed during my interview with Dr. Mark Dedomenico.  Mark visited our Green Screen studio to be interviewed for my new documentary, "CEOs of Seattle."  Mark talked about his beginnings as a graduate of the St. Louis University Medical School and how a paper he once wrote helped trigger the evolution of the medical procedure known as the Coronary Bypass Surgery.  I could tell by meeting Mark that he is a visionary, a thinking-man, who is dedicated to changing the world.  Mark has dedicated his life to overcoming the challenge of obesity.  Mark is a former cardiovascular surgeon and the co-founder of the Hope Heart Institute in Seattle.  Then Mark talked about how he became the CEO of the worlds largest health club, Pro Sports Club, in Redmond, WA.   I learned alot during my interview with Mark.  He is a great role model about how a person's total focus can make a difference.   I remember how my father had a bypass back in the 1980s.   Maybe my father lived another day because of Mark Dedomenico.  Maybe a lot of people will live longer due to the due dilligence of Mark. Then we talked about his love of horses and his Pegasus Equine Rehabilitation Center.  Mark has started one of the world's premier centers for the rehabilitation and training of horses.  Mark definitely is a multi-faceted person.  He believes in excellence in everything he does.  Thanks Mark for letting me interview you for my documentary film.

Shari Marion-Hoff -- CEO of Hawkeye - Cohesion

Shari Marion-Hoff 

I was very pleased to meet Shari.  Shari is the CEO of Hawkeye - Cohesion, one of the nation's leading experts in high tech web and interactive marketing and advertising.  Shari was kind enough to drive over to our Inventive Productions studios to be interviewed for my new documentary "CEOs of Seattle."

I was very impressed with the strong leadership philosophies that Shari spoke about, including her focus on transparency in motivating her team.  She is a strong communicator, and she did a terrific interview about her leadership style and techniques.

Dan Greenshields -- CEO of Sharebuilder

Dan Greenshields -- CEO of Sharebuilder 

I was really impressed with the strong leadership philosophies of Dan Greenshields.  Dan came over to our Inventive Productions green screen studio to be interviewed for my documentary "CEOs of Seattle."  Dan talked about his career and his passion for the Sharebuilder concept.  He talked about his beliefs on how to motivate and inspire his team.  He discussed his strong dedication to integrity and values.    Dan really is a great leader and I am very grateful he took the time to help us with our documentary film.  

Alex Wasserman & Dave Johnson -- CEOs of Elite Fitness

Alex Wasserman & Dave Johnson -- Elite Fitness

I was deeply inspired by my interview with Alex and Dave from Elite Fitness.  They came over to our Inventive Productions studios to be interviewed on the Green Screen for my new documentary film, "CEOs of Seattle."  Alex and Dave are so confident, so strong in their leadership focus, that they were a perfect interview for our film.  They talked about the importance of attitude, teamwork, and integrity in creating a successful business.  Alex and Dave discussed the importance of being passionate about your vocation and it won't become work.  They love what they do, they get trememdous satisfaction from seeing the happy results from their clients.  These guys are a terrific example of what is best in the CEOs of Seattle. 

Tom Varga -- CEO of CFO Selections

Tom Varga -- CEO of CFO Selections

I really enjoyed my interview with Tom Varga with CFO Selections.  He was interviewed for my new documentary "CEOs of Seattle."  Tom is the leader of one of the fastest growing companies in the country, and I feel they have a bright future.  CFO Selections is sort of like a temp agency for CFOs.    Tom did a great job in the interview talking about the secrets to the success of his enterprise, and most importantly the values that have shaped his management style and philosophies.  He really believes in the concept of giving to others.  Give and you shall receive.  What a concept.  Thanks Tom for all your help with this documentary project.

Naomi Novotny & Mark Zoske -- "CEOs of Seattle"

   

Naomi Novotny & Mark Zoske from "SaltWorks"

I first met Naomi and Mark back about a year ago when we were doing the video for the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce for their Eastside Business Awards.  Naomi and Mark's company SaltWorks was nominated as a finalist for the EBA Awards.  Producer Mitchell Pickett and I had travelled to their facility to interview the owners and shoot the footage for the video to be shown on the big screen at the awards ceremony.  Both Mitchell and I were deeply impressed with the enthusiasm and success of SaltWorks.  We were inspired by their rags to riches story, of starting in their garage with an idea, and now looking to expand their business to a new 100,000 square foot facility.  This week Naomi and Mark visited our Inventive Productions studio in Redmond to be interviewed for my new documentary "CEOs of Seattle."   They decided we should interview Mark even though they really are a united leadership team.  Mark told some great stories about his childhood and his hopes and dreams of being a successful business owner ever since he was a kid.  He talked about the other five businesses he owned before finally hitting a winner with SaltWorks.  I was deeply moved by his management philosophies and his dedication and committment to excellence.  His interview will really help our movie.  Thanks Naomi and Mark for taking the time to help us with this documentary project.  We wish them the very best with the incredible growth of their company.   They are a terrific team.

Dan Blanchard -- "CEOs of Seattle" documentary

    Dan Blanchard

I had a great time interviewing Dan Blanchard CEO of American Safari Cruises, one of America's premier luxury cruise lines.   Dan told me his great story about how he got into the business and his philosophy of leadership, recruiting, and motivation.  Dan is a great guy.  I really appreciate his help with my documentary "CEOs of Seattle."

Carolyn Schwager

         

Carolyn & John Schwager

      

Carolyn Schwager   

(May 17, 1918 - February 24, 2009)

Carolyn Schwager was the kindest, most generous, positive person I have ever met.

I will never forget her enthusiasm for life and her funny laugh.

I first met Carolyn at Eagle Crest about 20 years ago. I will never forget how much energy she always had, her zest for life.

I remember her playing tennis and golf and skiing and riding her bicycle and her big smile.

I never saw Carolyn without a big smile, in twenty years.

She always went out of her way to help others. I remember she was always a wonderful host who would offer me a sandwich or crackers with a glass of milk or wine.

Carolyn and John were real role models for me. Their love for each other was inspirational to me.

I watched how Carolyn would take care of John and John would take care of her.

They really changed my life forever.

I will always be grateful for their friendship and warmth.

Ihave a hundred great memories, if not a thousand, with Carolyn and John.

She always would surprise me. She had so much energy. So much joy. She was a person I will miss terribly and will remember as a great person.

I remember how nice and kind Carolyn was with my children. She had a terrific sense of humor and always saw the best in people.

Carolyn Schwager always told me stories about how she knew John from way back and how he would always walk out of his way to go by her house. I think they've always had a crush on each other.

Thank you Lord for allowing me the priviledge to have known Carolyn. I am eternally grateful.

RJ McHatton

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After I heard about Carolyn's passing, I called over to John Schwager's home and set up an appointment to see him.  It has been a couple of years since I have seen John.  I feel terrible that I have let so much time go by.  Well I went over to John's home and spend some time with him.  He is doing great.  His is 98 years old now and he still has the strongest handshake I ever saw.  I plan to make it a habit to stop by and see John on a consistent basis.  He is a real friend, someone who alway went out of his way to be my friend and to help others.  He is a true role model of the type of person I aspire to be.    

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Sekou Page - Entirenet / Microsoft OCS Labcast

     Sekou Page

We just completed the shooting phase of the new Labcast video production for Entirenet /Microsoft.   It was another snowy day as we started shooting at our green screen studio in Redmond, Washington.  Our client, Entirenet, does a lot of educational training projects for Microsoft, including the new web-based video labcasts.  We have worked on several of these projects over the past year.  This time our guest speaker and instructor was Sekou Page from Santa Monica, CA.  Sekou did a fine job in leading the labcast training classes.  We shot him on the green screen so we could put a quality computer generated logo behind him when we do the editing.  

Bert Gregory -- "CEOs of Seattle" documentary

              Bert Gregory of Mithun

It was a little rainy that morning in downtown Seattle.  I drove down onto the waterfront and parked under the Alaskan Viaduct.    I had an appointment with Bert Gregory of Mithun.  Their offices are located right on the Pier on the waterfront.   Immediately I noticed the great architecture inside the offices, with very tall open ceilings.  I was there to interview Bert for my documentary, "CEOs of Seattle."  Mithun is one of the leading architecture firms in the nation focusing on the concepts predominantly known today as "GREEN" or sustainability.    The interview was a bit unusual because all the architects and employees in the office worked in one giant open room.  There were no private offices or conference rooms to shoot the interview.  So we set up a spot right in the middle of the room and did the interview.  Bert did a super job in the interview.  I learned a lot about his leadership philosophies and management style.  You can learn more about Bert and Mithun at http://www.mithun.com  

Kelly Noonan - CEO of Seattle Documentary

   Kelly Noonan

I really enjoyed my interview with Kelly Noonan for my documentary "CEOs of Seattle."  Kelly is a graduate of Notre Dame and University of Washington.  She is the Managing Shareholder of Stokes Lawrence PS, one of the leading law firms in the Seattle area.  I was immediately impressed with Kelly and her tremendous leadership skills and managment philosophies.  I think the interview went well.  We discovered that it is a small world because we have some mutual long time friends in Yakima.